Dear Editor,
This is a country where the ruling administration has turned using and abusing its law-abiding citizens into a fine art.
I refer specifically to the callous disregard, even contempt, shown by the authorities for Devanand Shyamraj, who took his role as Rural Constable and member of a Community Policing Group seriously, confronted armed bandits and took bullets for his efforts.
For those who do not know, the medical people at the GPHC, at the insistence of the police, attended to the injured bandits first. Shyamraj was left bleeding outside. These bandits had just killed a man and wounded others, yet they got priority treatment at the hospital.
It gets worse. After Shyamraj received treatment, he was placed two beds away in the same ward from the injured bandit. Isn’t this ridiculous? No one thought of security for Shyamraj?
Fearing for the safety of Shyamraj, his relatives and certain executive members of the East Coast CPG body moved Shyamraj to a private hospital.
The hospital bill is about $300,000, Shyamraj’s vehicle is all shot up, windscreen and windows shattered. Shyamraj is suffering from gunshot wounds. All because he was doing what he was legally encouraged to do and what he thought the authorities would respect. But no official visited him at the hospital. None called his relatives.
With the abandoning of Shyamraj, who should be hailed a hero and have all his expenses paid for by the Ministry of Home Affairs, what message is being sent to CPG members throughout Guyana?
Clearly, we are told that we are on our own. We defend the community at our own risk.
Mr. Shymraj, you have shown more guts than those who wear bullet-proof vests and who always turn up late, as they did in this incident and are taking praise for the capture of the criminals. They will continue to do so. The con game goes on.
I am tempted to give a statement of what I saw. But, with the way Shyamraj was treated, I do not trust the Police. I challenge anyone to dispute what I have said here.
The lack of respect for Shyamraj, who is an example of CPG commitment, is a major embarrassment to this administration. Enjoy your few months more in Government.
While I am at it, people should go to the polls and spoil their ballots. The politicians, all of them, will get the message.
Yours faithfully,
Clement Sarran
